Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Festival Theatre Edinburgh Review
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
18-19 October 2016
Reviewed by Deborah Mackenzie
An evening filled with emotion that it sends chills down your spine as you gap open mouthed at the power of dance telling a story so familiar it is once again new.
Alvin Ailey had a vision, his vision still goes on and will for years to come. His vision was born from the streets of New York to preserve the African American tradition and their diversity; gospel to hip hop, street and traditional meeting the four corners of the world. His dancers need tenacity, authenticity and to belong to a community of dancers, yet to rise above being just another person in the group – to be a star!
The evening opened with Exodus; choreographed by Rennie Harris at a time when he had recently lost his mother. It is an acknowledgement of humanity; from mourning to celebration of a better world to come. This hip-hop dance is thrilling to watch with the blend of gospel and house music. Led by Jamar Roberts, who shows strength and control as he leads; the slow deliberate movement, and at times freeze-frame images across the stage gather momentum to quick footwork; shoulders, torsos and hips work together as well as independently.
Four Corners depicts change through the four angels standing on the corners of the earth, holding the four winds, Brown took inspiration from the text of Lamentations by the poet and recording artist Carl Hancock. This modern dance of rhythm and movement tells the story of being burdened with grief, but finding peace, solace and freedom from having an angel in their corner. About half way through, the energy and music change indicating the winds of change are blowing, as the dancers exploded effervescently before the ending.
Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘After the Rain’ pas de deux; this male-female duet is awe-inspiring simplicity and intricate as the dancers make it their own. The depiction of this dance is about love and longing, but others have said it is about death and loss, to me it was two strong characters in love, their strength and independence as they slowly resolved and met together as one at the end.
Ailey’s signature Revelations has become a cultural treasure, loved by generations, but even if you are seeing it for the first time like I was, your body automatically sways, your feet tap through the African American gospel and blues songs depicted by dance takes on a journey of grief and the deepest joy in your soul.
Revelations has ten separate dances, covering so many different dance mediums depicting the rich treasures of African American cultural heritage. The costumes start off being very plain to the grandeur of beautiful flowing gowns, hats and suits.
This is a night I will not forget; it is burned in my memory and will reflect on the journey these dancers took me. The audience whistled, cajoled and whooped after every performance and in Revelations hands clapped to the rhythmical beat of the much-loved African American gospel songs. A night filled with storytelling through dance, music and rhythm that spoke to my soul in many ways… as all things come to an end; this is one night that will linger for a long time.
Rating: 5/5 
For more information visit www.alvinailey.org.
For other shows at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh visit www.edtheatres.com.
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